Jockey's Ridge State Park

The most popular part of Nags Head is Jockey's Ridge State Park, home of the tallest sand dune system in the eastern U.S. You can reach the top by one of two ways, depending on your terrain preference. A 1.5-mile-long sand-covered trail winds from the parking lot and up the dune (do this in shoes, the sand can get unbearably hot). Or you can walk the boardwalk to the top. Once you make it to the end of your journey, you can explore your adventurous side and hang glide and sand board, or go back to your childhood and fly a kite. You must bring your own sand board and kite, but you can take hang gliding lessons from Kitty Hawk Kites, located near the park entrance.

For nature enthusiasts, the park also has several other trails you can wander on to explore the estuaries and plant life also found here. The park is free to enter and is open daily until sunset.